Three signs of spring in Tucson: house sparrows nesting in roof tiles, baseball players and fans flocking to pre-season games, and clouds of dust rising from homes where Tucsonans are embarking on their own versions of shaping up their nests for the new season.

Yes, it's time for spring cleaning. Time to clear away the remains of cozy winter nights and give your house a thorough going-over before it gets too hot to do anything more ambitious than lounge with your feather duster by the pool. We've talked to the folks who clean for a living to find out how to do it right.

Illustration by Leah Tiscione / Arizona Daily Star